Foot-shield.



UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. BOSWORTH, O

PATENT OFFICE.

F FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY.

FOOT-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,543, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed April '7, 1902.

T0 @ZZ whom ir', may concern.-

Beit known that 1WILLIAM E. BosWoETH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Frankfort, in the county of Franklin and State of Kentucky, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Shie1ds, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention has for its nature a peculiar shield specially designed to prevent cramping of the toesinto an unnatural position in pulling on a shoe. l

It is well known when pulling on a shoe that the under part of the stocking engages the insole of the shoe with frictional contact, and thereby producing a pulling effect or action on the ends of the toes, and that the pulling action stated tends to draw and turn under the toes into a cramped and unnatural position, which when the shoe is pulled on the foot produces much discomfort by reason of the tight fit of the1 shoe caused by the toes being so cramped or turned under, not to mention the probable formation of corns resulting therefrom. To obviate such cramping and pulling of the toes into unnatural positions, I have invented an attachment to socks or stockings, which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompany drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which# Figure l is a detail sectional plan view of a stocking, showing the fore part or toe end of' a foot and my shield in position in the stocking. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the toe end of a stocking, showing my shield secured Within the stocking. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing my shield in front elevation. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sec# tion through a stocking, showing the under part thereof under tension and the pulling effect resisted by my improved shield; and Fig. \6 shows a modified arrangement of my invention.

Are'presents the foot part of a sock or stocking, and B indicates myaimproved shield.

Iterm my invention a shield, since its object is to separate the toes, as well as protect them againstbeing cramped or turned under, as will appear farther on.

The shield B may be formed of metal, cloth, leather, or of fabric similar to the stocking and knitted in one operation with the stocking or manufactured as a separate article of s Serial No. 101,689. (No model.)

ing.

In manufacturing my shield from material such as may be desired the body portion is provided with holes C, through which the toes may pass, and the whole edge ofV the body portion or a part thereof is adapted to be secured to the stocking with stitches or other suitable means at a point conforming to the position of the toes within a stocking when on the foot.

It will be noticed that the holes C are of size and so arranged in the body portion B as to provide a surrounding edge and straps or webs D, the latter connecting the upper and lower edges of the body portion and formed to tit between the toes in position adapted to resist the pulling action stated of the under foot part of the stocking.

Ido not desire to limit myself to a shield of the character stated located within a stockend of the stocking, as shown in Fig. 6 of my drawings.

Now it is apparent that with a shield such as I have invented and the same secured to or forming part of a stocking, as described, the toes are relieved or shielded from the drawing or pulling action stated, resulting from frictional contactof the under part of the stocking with theinsole, since any such action is resisted by the vertical straps or webs D vof my shield arranged between the toes, as

shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is#

l. A foot-covering'consisting of a sock or stocking having a shield consisting of a body portion, in shape, conforming to the interior of the sock or stocking and having spaced holes in it adapted for protrusion of the toes,

Substantially as described.

2. A sock or stocking having its toe portion removed and provided at its toe end with a shield secured thereto, said shield consisting of a body portion conforming to the interior of the sock or stocking and having spaced holes in it adapted for protrusion of the toes, substantially as described.

WILLIAM E. BOSWORTI-I.

Witnesses:

T. N. LINDSEY, J. U. LINDSEY.

manu facture adapted to be secured to a stocking, since the same may form the eXtreme toe l IOO 

